By Joseph Slacian
WABASH, Ind. – Increases in the sewage and stormwater rates were approved on first reading Tuesday night, Oct. 11, by the Wabash City Council.
The three-phase sewage rate increase, the first approved since 2010, will range from $2.13 in 2017 to $2.37 in 2019, based on residential use of 5,000 gallons per month. The increase is 5.6 percent annually for the three-year period, or 16.8 percent over the three years.
The stormwater rate increase is 5 percent, and would be reflected by a 20-cent increase in residential rates.
Increases for non-residential sites depends on the facility’s size. For example, a structure 50,000 square feet or less would rise from the current $16.32 per month to $17.14 per month.
The sewer rate increase is needed to provide funding for additions, extensions and replacements to, and proper maintenance of the sewage works.
Likewise, the stormwater increase is needed for installation, maintenance and operations of a drainage system, stormwater collection and disposal for the city.
A public hearing on the increase will take place prior to the Oct. 25 Wabash City Council meeting.
In another matter, the Council also approved the issuance and sale of sewage revenue bonds to help with the completion of five projects around the city, including the second and third phases of the combined sewer overflows required by the state and federal governments.
The bonds are not to exceed $7.75 million.
The three actions followed presentations of nearly 40 minutes by John Julien, a partner with H.J. Umbaugh & Associates, and Richard Starkey, a partner with Barnes & Thornburg, LLP.
For more details, see the Oct. 19 edition of The Paper of Wabash County.